Toddler Snowboard Training Harness

ABSTRACT

A snowboard training device which allows a trainer to strap a toddler to the trainer while the trainer is buckled into the snowboard. The snowboard training device consists of a harness arrangement, which secures the toddler to the trainer. The toddler is secured to the trainer at points of connection from the harness to the trainer&#39;s front leg or both legs while the toddler also stands on the snowboard. The device allows the trainer and the toddler to snowboard on a snow slope with the toddler firmly attached to the trainer for safety and instruction purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:

Snowboarding is a very popular sport that has grown exponentially over the past three decades. Learning to snowboard is a difficult and dangerous process that often results in injury to the party attempting to master the skill. Learning to snowboard can be more difficult for toddlers and young children ages two to five. Given the complexities associated with snowboarding for very young children, most ski and snowboard schools will not even provide snowboard lessons for children under ages six to seven while they do provide ski lessons for children as young as age three.

There is a need for a device which allows a trainer to train a very young child while providing stability and security for the child while being trained on a snowboard.

SUMMARY

The invention is a snowboard training device which comprises a harness attached to a trainee and straps connecting the harness and trainee to the trainer's legs while both parties are standing on a snowboard and snowboarding on a snow slope. The invention also comprises a method of using such a device to train an infant, toddler, young child or small person to ride a snowboard. The invention enables the trainer to securely attach the trainee to their lower body while the trainee stands on the snowboard and becomes accustomed to the movement and balance necessary in learning to ride a snowboard. The invention provides security to the trainee of being securely connected to the trainer while riding the snowboard.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to skiing and snowboarding training equipment and methods. Specifically, the invention relates to a device that allows a trainer to train a trainee to snowboard by attaching the trainee to the trainer via the device while both parties snowboard on a snow slope.

DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of the Toddler Snowboard Training Harness being worn by a toddler attached to the trainer while on a snowboard;

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the Toddler Snowboard Training Harness being worn by a toddler attached to the trainer while on a snowboard;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the Toddler Snowboard Training Harness only;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the Toddler Snowboard Training Harness being worn by a toddler as it is typically worn;

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the Toddler Snowboard Training Harness being worn by a toddler as it is typically worn.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

This detailed description is meant to illustrate various embodiments of the invention. This description should not be construed to limit the invention to those specific embodiments. Skilled practitioners will recognize and use various embodiments of the invention.

The invention is a toddler snowboard training harness 9 which is designed to allow a trainer 10 to securely attach the toddler 11 to the trainer 10 while the trainer 10 is on a snowboard 12.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a toddler 11 is wearing the harness 9 while attached securely to the trainer 10 via connection straps 14 and while standing on a snowboard 12 in between the snowboard bindings 13.

FIG. 2 shows the rear view of a toddler 11 wearing the device 9 while attached securely to the trainer 10 via connection straps 14 and while standing on a snowboard 12 in between the snowboard bindings 13.

FIG. 3 shows the device 9 alone. Connection straps 14 allow the device 9 to attach a toddler to a trainer with the preferred embodiment wrapping the connection straps 14 around the trainer's legs. The connection straps 14 attach to the device 9 via connection loops 20 which connect the connection straps 14 to the chest straps 21. The device 9 is secured to the toddler via a waste belt 15, an under support strap 16, and chest straps 21. The waste belt 15 has waste belt adjusters 17 which allow the waste belt 15 to secure to the toddler. The chest straps 21 have back adjusters 22 which allow the chest straps 21 to secure to the toddler. The chest straps 21 are connected via the chest strap adjuster 18 which allows for an additional secure fit. The chest straps 18 have shoulder supports 19 to secure the upper connection loops 20 and to provide for additional comfort and fit.

FIG. 4 shows a front view of the device 9 being worn securely by a toddler 11. The waste belt 15 is attached and secured via the waste belt adjusters 17. The chest straps 21 are connected via the chest adjuster 18. The connection loops 20 are yet to be attached to the connection straps. The shoulder supports 19 are in place and connected to the upper connection loops 20. The front side of the under support strap 16 is showing.

FIG. 5 shows a rear view of the device 9 being worn securely by a toddler 11. The rear part of the waste belt 15 is attached to the under support strap 16. The under support strap adjuster 23 secures the under support strap 16. The back adjusters 22 secure the chest straps 21. The rear side of the shoulder supports 19 are displayed. The connection loops 20 are yet to be connected to the connection straps. 

I claim the following:
 1. A snowboard training device adapted to allow a trainer to attach a toddler to the trainer's front leg or in between the trainer's legs so that the toddler may stand on the board while being secured to the trainer while both the trainer and toddler are snowboarding on a snow slope; the device consisting of a harness attached securely to the toddler and connection straps connecting the harness securely to the trainer while the toddler stands on the snowboard behind the trainer's front leg or in between the trainer's legs and in between the fixed bindings of the snowboard.
 2. The snowboard training device of claim 1 wherein the harness of the device has any number of connections to the trainer.
 3. The snowboard training device of claim 1 wherein the harness of the device has adjustable straps so that that harness may properly fit the trainee.
 4. The snowboard training device of claim 1 wherein the straps connecting the harness to the trainer are adjustable so that the harness may properly fit to the trainer thus allowing support to the trainee while standing on the snowboard.
 5. The snowboard training device of claim 1 wherein the trainee is an infant, toddler, child or small person small enough to stand between the legs of the trainer while connected to the trainer via the device.
 6. The snowboard training device of claim 1 wherein the trainee is an infant, toddler, child or person who can stand on the snowboard while the trainer is strapped into the front bindings of the board and the rear foot of the trainer is either strapped or unstrapped to the rear binding.
 7. The snowboard training device of claim 1 wherein the harness arrangement is incorporated into a jacket.
 8. The method of instructing a trainee to ride a snowboard, the method compromising of steps of: a. attaching a harness to a toddler, infant, child or small person small enough to stand between the legs of the trainer or on the board behind the front leg of the trainer; b. the trainer being strapped into the snowboard via the front or both front and rear binding(s) and standing; c. the toddler, infant, child or small person being attached securely to the trainer via the harness and connection straps which attach the harness to the trainer's front leg or both front and rear legs; d. the toddler, infant, child or small person also standing on the board between the snowboard bindings; and e. both the trainer and toddler snowboarding on a snow slope. 